Due to the fact that I live 3 hours from NYC, I am at a certain disadvantage when the Sox play the Skanks. Not only am I blacked out from most games (unless they are national), if I do luck out and they show a game on a local channel, I am subjected to YES, or some other Skankee-centric broadcast, and yes, it’s as bad as you would expect. The only time I have ever seen NESN cover a Red Sox/Skankee game was when I was pretty much anywhere but here.

So, per the usual, the only game I got to see was last night’s ESPN contest, but it was definitely one worth seeing. I was nervous for a while there when the Sox were down, as David Price certainly did not have his best stuff, but then, holy buckets, Christian Vazquez, who is hitting .225 since his return, stroked his 2nd homer EVER–a 2-run shot in the 7th, which put the Sox ahead for good.

So the sweep is complete, the Sox are now in first place (1/2 game ahead of the Oreos), and the Skanks are still DEAD LAST–SIX games behind.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Yeah, I know, the Sox just finished the first month of the season (14-10–not too shabby), and there are many, many more games to be played, and tons of opportunities for the Skanks to get right back into it.

But for right now, I will bask in the glory of the current state of events…Yay!

David Price’s line to improve him to 4-0 with a still kinda icky 6.14 ERA: 7IP, giving up 6 runs on 8 hits, including a homer to freaking A-Fraud (naturally), while walking 1 and striking out 3. He threw 100 pitches, 71 for strikes…

But, Ric Porcello, who got the win in the 8-0 shut out on Saturday night, remains the winningest Red Sox pitcher, at 5-0 with 2.76 ERA. He also has not given up a run in his last 2 starts. Inexplicable.

And, even Henry Owens improved from his previous start, to drop to a 4.82. And throwing 6 innings of 2-run ball, although he was not part of the decision in that contest…

Probably the most compelling reason the Sox swept? Besides the fact the Skanks are hitting for crap? That Clay Person did not get a start. And, if the rotation continues the way it is, he will not get a start in the Bronx next weekend either, which gives the Sox the best chance of another sweep–although I expect 6 games in a row is far too much to ask for

Although it IS nice to think about…

Speaking of nice to think about. The Large Father continues to amaze. On Friday night he hit a homer, which, if you’re Big Papi, happens pretty often. But this one was special because he promised a 5-year old boy named Maverick Schutte, born with a heart defect, that he would hit a homer for him: …”Always stay positive. Keep the faith. You take care, buddy, and I’m going to hit a homer for you tonight. Remember that. For you.”

And of course, he not only hits a 2-run shot in the 8th that will win the game, he hits it off Betances, who he has never even gotten a hit off in the 7 times he has faced him.

David Ortiz: Clutchest. Hitter. Ever.

And how bout these apples? JBJ is currently hitting .274 with a homer, 2 stolen bases 13 RBI’s and an OPS of .810. And in case you were wondering, he is a career .219 hitter. Small sample size (84 AB) so far this year? Sure, but I like it…

Finally, looks like Carson Smith will be back for tomorrow’s contest against the White Sox, which will give a nice boost to the bullpen. This will be the first time the rightly will pitch in 2016, as he has been on the DL since the end of Spring Training (March 21st) with a flexor main strain on his pitching elbow…Most logical person to be set to Pawtucket is Heath Hembree, although it may behoove the Sox to carry 13 pitchers instead…

Coming up: an off-day today, then the Sox head on the road for 6, including 3 against the Skanks next weekend. First is 3 against the White Sox, who have the best record (18-8) in the AL East right now (The Red Sox are 2nd). Stephen Wright goes for his third win, opposed by Jose Quintana. 1st pitch 8:10pm…